Wall-Mountable Wireless Remote Control Device

ABSTRACT

A wall-mountable remote control device may be installed in place of an existing light switch and may be configured to transmit wireless signals to an electrical load device, such as a screw-in light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, to provide control of the electrical load device. The remote control device may comprise an air-gap switch adapted to be electrically coupled in series between a power source and the controllable light source, but may not comprise a bidirectional semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load device using a phase-control dimming technique. The remote control device may have a low-profile enclosure that is smaller than an enclosure of a standard dimmer switch, and thus may be easier to install in an electrical wallbox. The remote control device may comprise two parts including an air-gap switch device and a wireless communication device mounted to the air-gap switch device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/594,100, filed May 12, 2017, entitled WALL-MOUNTABLE WIRELESS REMOTECONTROL DEVICE, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/580,353, filed Dec. 23, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,699,870, issuedJul. 4, 2017, entitled WALL-MOUNTABLE WIRELESS REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE,which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.61/921,100, filed Dec. 27, 2013, entitled REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE FOR ACONTROLLABLE LIGHT SOURCE, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/095,304, filed Dec. 22, 2014, entitled WALL-MOUNTABLE WIRELESS REMOTECONTROL DEVICE, the respective disclosures of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their respective entireties.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a remote control device for anelectrical load device, and more particularly, to a remote controldevice adapted to replace a light switch for controlling an electricalload device, such as a controllable light source or a remotely-locatedload control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to anelectrical load.

Description of the Related Art

In order to reduce energy consumption, the use of high-efficiency lightsources (e.g., gas discharge lamps, such as compact fluorescent lamps(CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) light sources) is increasing, whilethe use of low-efficiency light sources (e.g., incandescent lamps orhalogen lamps) is decreasing. Particularly, many consumers are replacingolder screw-in incandescent lamps with screw-in high-efficiency lamps toprovide a quick path to reducing energy consumption. A screw-inhigh-efficiency lamp includes a light source (e.g., a CFL tube or LEDlight engine) and an integral load regulation circuit (e.g., a ballastcircuit or an LED drive circuit) housed in a base of the high-efficiencylamp. The high-efficiency lamp receives an alternating-current (AC)mains voltage from an AC power source and the load regulation circuitregulates at least one of a load voltage generated across the lightsource and a load current conducted through the light source. In mostinstallations, the screw-in high-efficiency lamp may be turned on andoff by actuating a light switch coupled between the AC power source andthe high-efficiency lamp. Many screw-in high-efficiency lamps may bedimmed by a dimmer switch that replaces the light switch.

Some screw-in high-efficiency lamps now also include integral wirelessreceivers, e.g., radio-frequency (RF) receivers, for receiving wirelesssignals, e.g., RF signals, from a remote control device, such that thescrew-in high-efficiency lamp may be turned on and off and dimmed inresponse to the remote control device. These wirelessly-controlledhigh-efficiency lamps may still be coupled in series with apreviously-installed light switch. If the light switch is turned off(e.g., opened), the high-efficiency lamp will not be powered and thuswill not be able to be controlled by the remote control device.

SUMMARY

As described herein, a wall-mountable remote control device may beinstalled in place of an existing light switch and may be configured totransmit wireless signals to an electrical load device to providecontrol of the electrical load device. The electrical load device may bea controllable light source, such as a screw-in light-emitting diode(LED) or compact fluorescent (CFL) lamp, or a remotely-controllablecontrol module or load control device, such as an LED driver for anexternal LED light engine. After installation, the remote control devicemay be easily associated with the electrical load device, such that theelectrical load device is then responsive to the wireless signalstransmitted by the remote control device. The remote control device maycomprise a user interface having one or more buttons (e.g., actuators)and may transmit the wireless signals to the electrical load device inresponse to actuations of the buttons. For example, the remote controldevice may comprise a wireless communication circuit, e.g., aradio-frequency (RF) communication circuit configured to transmit an RFsignal, and a control circuit coupled to the actuator and the RFcommunication circuit. The control circuit may be configured to causethe RF communication circuit to transmit the RF signal in response to anactuation of the at least one actuator, where the RF signal includes acommand for controlling the electrical load. The electrical load devicemay be configured to adjust an amount of power consumed by theelectrical load device in response to the RF signal (e.g., solely inresponse to the RF signal). Since the remote control is a “two-wire”device and does not require a neutral connection, the remote controldevice provides for control of the electrical load device withoutrequiring any additional wiring. Accordingly, the remote control deviceavoids the problem of the prior art in which an installed light switchmay be operated to remove power from a controllable light source, andinstead provides one or more buttons to provide for manual control ofthe controllable light source.

The remote control device may comprise an air-gap switch adapted to beelectrically coupled (e.g., substantially directly electrically coupled)in series between a power source (e.g., an AC power source) and thecontrollable light source, but may not comprise a bidirectionalsemiconductor switch (such as a triac or one or more field-effecttransistors) for controlling the amount of power delivered to theelectrical load device using a phase-control dimming technique (e.g., asin a standard dimmer switch). When the air-gap switch is closed, a loadvoltage is developed across the controllable light source and issubstantially undistorted from the AC line voltage produced by the ACpower source. The air-gap switch may be opened to provide an actualair-gap barrier between the power source and the controllable lightsource to facilitate servicing of the control light source. Since theremote control device does not include a bidirectional semiconductorswitch for dimming the electrical load device, an enclosure of theremote control device may be of smaller size than the enclosure of astandard dimmer switch, and thus may be easier to install in anelectrical wallbox. The air-gap switch may provide a way of cyclingpower to the electrical load device to facilitate association of theremote control device and the electrical load device.

The remote control device may also comprise a power supply coupled inseries with the air-gap switch for stealing power from a line voltageproduced by the power source to generate a supply voltage for poweringthe wireless communication circuit and the control circuit. Since theremote control device is a two-wire device, the power supply may beconfigured to conduct a charging current through the electrical loaddevice to generate the supply voltage. When the remote control devicecomprises a power supply, the remote control device does not require adepletable power source, such as one or more batteries, which may needto be periodically replaced.

A remote control device comprising an air-gap switch device and awireless communication device for use in a load control system forcontrolling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to anelectrical load device is also described herein. The air-gap switchdevice may comprise: (1) a yoke portion configured to be mounted to anelectrical wallbox; (2) an enclosure connected to the yoke portion insuch a way as to be located inside of the wallbox when the yoke portionis mounted to the wallbox; (3) an air-gap switch located inside of theenclosure and adapted to be electrically coupled in series between theAC power source and the electrical load; and (4) an air-gap switchactuator mechanically coupled to the air-gap switch and configured to beactuated by a user to open and close the air-gap switch. The yokeportion may define a mounting structure that is configured to releasablyreceive the wireless communication device. The wireless communicationdevice may be located at least partially outside of the wallbox when theyoke portion is mounted to the wallbox and the wireless communicationdevice is received on the mounting structure.

The wireless communication device received on the mounting structure ofthe air-gap switch device may comprise at least one actuator, a wirelesscommunication circuit configured to transmit a wireless signal, and acontrol circuit coupled to the actuator and the wireless communicationcircuit. The control circuit may be configured to cause the wirelesscommunication circuit to transmit the wireless signal in response to anactuation of the at least one actuator, the wireless signal including acommand for controlling the electrical load. For example, the wirelesscommunication device may be battery-powered, and may be configured to beremoved from the mounting structure after the air-gap switch device ismounted to the wallbox. The control circuit of the wirelesscommunication device may be configured to subsequently cause thewireless communication circuit to transmit the wireless signal inresponse to an actuation of the at least one actuator when the wirelesscommunication device is removed from the mounting structure. To providefor easy adjustment of the user interface of the remote control device,the wireless communication device may be removed from the mountingstructure and replaced with a new wireless communication device having adifferent number, type, arrangement, or orientation of buttons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simple diagram of an example load control system having aload control device and a remote control device.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an example remote control device.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the remote control device of FIG. 2Awith a faceplate removed.

FIG. 3 is a simple diagram of an example load control system having aload control device and a two-part remote control device including awireless communication device and an air-gap switch device.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an example remote control device.

FIG. 4B is a partial exploded perspective view of the remote controldevice of FIG. 4B with a faceplate removed.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing how the remote control device ofFIG. 4A may mount to an air-gap switch device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example remote control device.

FIG. 6 is a simple diagram of another example load control system havinga load control device and a two-part remote control device including awireless communication device and an air-gap switch device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a simple diagram of an example load control system 100 (e.g.,a lighting control system) having an electrical load device (e.g., acontrollable light source 110) and a remote control device 120. Forexample, the controllable light source 110 may be a screw-inlight-emitting diode (LED) or compact fluorescent (CFL) lamp. Thecontrollable light source 110 may replace a previously-installed lightbulb installed in, for example, a ceiling-mounted or wall-mountedlighting fixture (such as a downlight fixture or a sconce) or a lamp(such as a table lamp or a floor lamp). The remote control device 120 isadapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between a powersource, e.g., an alternating-current (AC) power source 102, and thecontrollable light source 110. The remote control device 120 may beinstalled in an electrical wallbox in place of a standard wall-mountedmechanical switch (e.g., a “toggle switch” or a “light switch”) that wasused to turn the previously-installed light bulb on and off (e.g., in aretrofit installation). The remote control device 120 may be configuredto transmit wireless signals, e.g., radio-frequency (RF) signals 106, tothe controllable light source 110 for controlling the controllable lightsource 110.

The controllable light source 110 may comprise a housing 112 (e.g., aglass housing) having a front surface 114 and an integral lighting load(not shown), such as an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a compactfluorescent lamp, a light-emitting diode (LED) light engine, or othersuitable light source. The lighting load may be located inside of thehousing 112 of the housing and is adapted to shine light out of thefront surface 114 and/or the sides of the housing. The controllablelight source 110 may alternatively comprise a reflector located aroundthe sides of the housing for directing the illumination from thelighting load out the front surface 114 of the housing 112. The frontsurface 114 of the controllable light source 110 may be transparent ortranslucent and may be flat or domed. The controllable light source 110may also comprise an enclosure portion 116 coupled to a screw-in base118 that is adapted to be screwed into a standard Edison socket, suchthat the controllable light source may be coupled to the AC power source102.

The enclosure portion 116 may house an integral load control circuit(not shown), such as a dimmer circuit, a ballast circuit, or a LEDdriver circuit, for controlling the intensity of the lighting loadbetween a low-end intensity (e.g., approximately 1%) and a high-endintensity (e.g., approximately 100%). The controllable light source 110may also comprise a control circuit (e.g., microprocessor) and awireless receiver (e.g., an RF receiver) housed inside the enclosureportion 116, such that the control circuit is operable to control thelighting load in response to the RF signals 106 received from the remotecontrol device 120. Examples of screw-in luminaires are described ingreater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,008,866, issued Aug.30, 2011, entitled HYBRID LIGHT SOURCE; U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2012/0286689, published Nov. 15, 2012, entitled DIMMABLESCREW-IN COMPACT FLUORESCENT LAMP HAVING INTEGRAL ELECTRONIC BALLASTCIRCUIT; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/829,834, filed Mar. 14,2013, entitled CONTROLLABLE LIGHT SOURCE, the entire disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

Alternatively, the electrical load device may comprise a load controldevice for controlling an external electrical load (such as, forexample, an LED driver for an external LED light engine), or a motorizedwindow treatment.

The remote control device 120 may be a “two-wire” remote control deviceand may comprise two load terminals H1, H2 for coupling the remotecontrol device 120 is series electrical connection between the AC powersource 102 and the controllable light source 110. As defined herein, a“two-wire” remote control device does not require a direct connection tothe neutral side of the AC power source 102. In other words, allcurrents conducted through the two-wire remote control device areconducted through the electrical load device (e.g., the controllablelight source 110). A two-wire remote control device may have only twoterminals (i.e., the load terminals H1, H2 as shown in FIG. 1).Alternatively, a two-wire remote control device may comprise one or moreadditional connections that are not connections to neutral (e.g., toearth ground). Since the remote control device 120 is electricallycoupled in series between the AC power source 102 and the controllablelight source 110 and mounted to an electrical wallbox, the remotecontrol device may not be easily uninstalled and removed from the loadcontrol system 100, which hinders theft if the remote control device isinstalled in a public space, such as an office or a hotel room.

The remote control device 120 may also comprise a mechanical air-gapswitch 122 coupled in series between the load terminals H1, H2. Theair-gap switch 122 may be opened and closed in response to actuations ofan air-gap switch actuator 124 for respectively disconnecting andconnecting the controllable light source 110 with the AC power source102. For example, the air-gap switch 122 may be opened to disconnect thecontrollable light source 110 from the AC power source 102, such thatthe controllable light source 110 may be serviced. The remote controldevice 120 may be configured to provide a load voltage that is developedacross the controllable light source 110 and is substantiallyundistorted from the AC line voltage produced by the AC power source102. The remote control device does not include any electronicpower-switching components, such as a bidirectional semiconductor switch(e.g., a triac or one or more field-effect transistors), for controllingthe amount of power delivered to the controllable light source 110 usinga phase-control dimming technique (e.g., as in a standard dimmerswitch). The air-gap switch 112 is substantially directly electricallycoupled between the AC power source 102 and the controllable lightsource 110, i.e., the air-gap switch 112 is not electrically coupled inseries with a bidirectional semiconductor switch for controlling theamount of power delivered to the controllable light source using aphase-control dimming technique.

The remote control device 120 may comprise a control circuit 130, whichmay include one or more of a processor (e.g., a microprocessor), amicrocontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), a field programmablegate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), orany suitable processing device. The remote control device 120 maycomprise a user interface having one or more control actuators 132 forreceiving user inputs for controlling the controllable light source 110and one or more visual indicators 134 for providing feedback to a userof the remote control device. The remote control device 120 may includea memory 136 communicatively coupled to the control circuit 130. Thecontrol circuit 130 may be configured to use the memory 136 for thestorage and/or retrieval of, for example, a unique identifier (e.g., aserial number) of the remote control device 120. The memory 136 may beimplemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internalcircuit of the control circuit 130.

The remote control device 120 may further comprise a wirelesscommunication circuit 138, for example, including an RF transmittercoupled to an antenna for transmitting the RF signals 106. The controlcircuit 130 may be coupled to the wireless communication circuit 138 fortransmitting digital messages via the RF signals 106 in response to theactuations of the control actuators 132. The controllable light source110 may turn on and off or adjust the intensity of the internal lightingload in response to the RF signals 106 transmitted by the remote controldevice 120 when one of the control actuators 132 is actuated.Alternatively, the wireless communication circuit 138 may include an RFreceiver for receiving RF signals, an RF transceiver for transmittingand receiving RF signals, or an infrared (IR) transmitter and/orreceiver for transmitting and/or receiving IR signals. For example, thecontrol circuit 130 may be operable to receive a digital messageincluding the intensity of lighting load of the controllable lightsource 110. Examples of antennas for wall-mounted control devices aredescribed in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,982,103, issued Nov. 9,1999, and U.S. Pat. No. 7,362,285, issued Apr. 22, 2008, both entitledCOMPACT RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING ANTENNA AND CONTROLDEVICE EMPLOYING SAME, the entire disclosures of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

The remote control device 130 may transmit RF signals 106 in response toactuations of one or more of the actuators 132. All digital messagestransmitted by the remote control device 130 may include a command andidentifying information, for example, the serial number that is storedin the memory 136. The remote control device 120 may be configured totransmit digital messages via the RF signals 106 to the controllablelight source 110 according to a predefined RF communication protocol,such as, for example, one of LUTRON CLEAR CONNECT, WIFI, BLUETOOTH,ZIGBEE, Z-WAVE, KNX-RF, and ENOCEAN RADIO protocols. Alternatively, theremote control device 120 could be configured to transmit the digitalmessages via a different wireless medium, such as, for example, infrared(IR) signals or sound (such as voice).

The remote control device 120 may be associated with the controllablelight source 110 during a configuration procedure of the load controlsystem 100, such that the controllable light source 110 is responsive todigital messages transmitted by the remote control device 120 via the RFsignals 106. For example, the remote control device 120 may beassociated with the controllable light source 110 by opening and closingthe air-gap switch 122 to cycle power to the controllable light sourceand then, within a first time period after closing the air-gap switch,actuating and holding a button on the remote control device 120 for asecond shorter time period (e.g., approximately ten seconds). Inaddition, the controllable light source 110 may be grouped with one ormore other controllable light sources (or other electrical load devices,load control devices, or electrical loads). Other examples ofconfiguration procedures for load control systems are described ingreater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2008/0111491, published May 15, 2008, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCYLIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM; U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2013/0214609, published Aug. 22, 2013, entitled TWO-PART LOAD CONTROLSYSTEM MOUNTABLE TO A SINGLE ELECTRICAL WALLBOX; U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0265568, published Sep. 18, 2014, entitledCOMMISSIONING LOAD CONTROL SYSTEMS; and U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2014/0117871, published May 1, 2014, entitledBATTERY-POWERED RETROFIT REMOTE CONTROL DEVICE; the entire disclosuresof which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The remote control device 120 may also include a power supply 139coupled in series with the air-gap switch 122 between the AC powersource 102 and the controllable light source 110. When the air-gapswitch 122 is closed, the power supply 139 is operable to conduct acharging current through the controllable light source 110 to generate aDC supply voltage Vcc for powering the control circuit 130, the memory136, the wireless communication circuit 138, and other low-voltagecircuitry of the remote control device 120. The power supply 139 may beable to generate the DC supply voltage Vcc without significantlydistorting the load voltage developed across the controllable lightsource 110, e.g., as described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.7,423,413, issued Sep. 9, 2008, entitled POWER SUPPLY FOR A LOAD CONTROLDEVICE, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0270982,published Oct. 28, 2010, entitled SMART ELECTRONIC SWITCH FOR LOW-POWERLOADS, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated byreference. Since the remote control device 120 has the power supply 139,the remote control device does not require a depletable power source,such as one more batteries, which may need to be periodically replaced.

The air-gap switch 122 of the remote control device 120 couldalternatively comprise a relay adapted to be controlled by the controlcircuit 130, such that the control circuit is able to open and close therelay in response to actuations of the control actuators 132 or thewireless signals received via the wireless communication circuit 138. Inaddition, the remote control device 120 could alternatively not comprisethe air-gap switch 122 or the air-gap switch actuator 124.

The load control system 100 may further comprise an input device 140,e.g., an RF transmitter, such as a handheld battery-powered remotecontrol, an occupancy sensor, a vacancy sensor, or a daylight sensor.The remote control device 120 may be configured to receive digitalmessages via RF signals 106 transmitted by the input device 140 and, inresponse to the received digital messages, to transmit digital messagesto the controllable light source 110 via the RF signals 106 forcontrolling the controllable light source to turn the controllable lightsource on and off, and to increase or decrease the intensity of thecontrollable light source. In addition, the input device 140 may beconfigured to transmit the digital messages via the RF signals 106directly to the controllable light source 110. The load control system100 may comprise a plurality of input devices, a single input device, orno input devices.

A handheld battery-powered remote control may comprise one or moreactuators (e.g., buttons) for receiving user inputs for controlling thecontrollable light source 110. Examples of battery-powered remotecontrols are described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat.No. 8,330,638, issued Dec. 11, 2012, entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWEREDREMOTE CONTROL HAVING MULTIPLE MOUNTING MEANS, and U.S. PatentApplication Publication No. 2014/0268628, published Sep. 18, 2014,entitled REMOTE CONTROL HAVING A CAPACITIVE TOUCH SURFACE AND AMECHANISM FOR AWAKENING THE REMOTE CONTROL, the entire disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

Occupancy sensors and vacancy sensors may detect occupancy and/orvacancy conditions in the space in which the load control system 100 isinstalled. The occupancy sensor and/or the vacancy sensor may transmitdigital messages to the remote control device 120 via the RF signals 106in response to detecting the occupancy and/or vacancy conditions. Theremote control device 120 may be configured transmit digital messages tothe controllable light source 110 to turn on the controllable lightsource in response to receiving an occupied command from an occupancysensor, and to turn off the controllable light source in response toreceiving a vacant command from the occupancy sensor. Alternatively, theremote control device 120 may be configured to only turn off thecontrollable light source 110 in response to a vacancy sensor detectinga vacancy condition (e.g., to not turn on the controllable light sourcein response to the vacancy sensor detecting an occupancy condition).Examples of RF load control systems having occupancy and vacancy sensorsare described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.8,009,042, issued Aug. 30, 2011 Sep. 3, 2008, entitled RADIO-FREQUENCYLIGHTING CONTROL SYSTEM WITH OCCUPANCY SENSING; U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,010,issued Jun. 12, 2012, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING AWIRELESS SENSOR; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,228,184, issued Jul. 24, 2012,entitled BATTERY-POWERED OCCUPANCY SENSOR, the entire disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

A daylight sensor may be configured to measure a total light intensityin the space in which the load control system is installed. The daylightsensor may transmit digital messages including the measured lightintensity to the remote control device 120 via the RF signals 106 forcontrolling the intensities of the controllable light source 110 inresponse to the measured light intensity. Examples of RF load controlsystems having daylight sensors are described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,410,706, issued Apr. 2, 2013, entitledMETHOD OF CALIBRATING A DAYLIGHT SENSOR; and U.S. Pat. No. 8,451,116,issued May 28, 2013, entitled WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED DAYLIGHT SENSOR,the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Alternatively, the controllable light source 110 and the remote controldevice 120 could be part of a larger RF load control system. Examples ofRF load control systems are described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.5,905,442, issued on May 18, 1999, entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FORCONTROLLING AND DETERMINING THE STATUS OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES FROM REMOTELOCATIONS, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/033,223, filed Feb.19, 2008, entitled COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL FOR A RADIO-FREQUENCY LOADCONTROL SYSTEM, the entire disclosures of which are both herebyincorporated by reference.

In addition, the load control system 100 could include other types ofinput devices, such as, for example, radiometers, cloudy-day sensors,shadow sensors, window sensors, temperature sensors, humidity sensors,pressure sensors, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors,air-quality sensors, motion sensors, security sensors, proximitysensors, fixture sensors, partition sensors, keypads, kinetic orsolar-powered remote controls, key fobs, cell phones, smart phones,tablets, personal digital assistants, personal computers, laptops,timeclocks, audio-visual controls, safety devices (such as fireprotection, water protection, and medical emergency devices), powermonitoring devices (such as power meters, energy meters, utilitysubmeters, utility rate meters), residential, commercial, or industrialcontrollers, or any combination of these input devices. The inputdevices may comprise a central control transmitter (e.g., a systemcontroller or broadcasting device) to allow for central control of theload control system 100. Specifically, the central control transmittermay be adapted to transmit a digital message including one of: atimeclock command, a load shed command, a demand response command, apeak demand command, or time-of-day pricing information. In addition,the remote control device 120 could be operable to transmit information,such as the status and energy consumption of the controlled loads, backto the central control transmitter or one of the other input devices.One or more of the different types of input devices may be provided in asingle load control system.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an example remote control device 200,which may be deployed, for example, as the remote control device 120 ofthe load control system 100 as depicted in FIG. 1. The remote controldevice 200 may be configured to control an electrical load device (e.g.,the controllable light source 110 of the load control system 100 of FIG.1). The remote control device 200 may comprise a faceplate 210 that maybe connected to an adapter plate 212. The faceplate 210 may comprise anopening 214 through which a bezel portion 215 of the remote controldevice 200 extends. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the remote controldevice 200 with the faceplate 210 and the adapter plate 212 removed. Theremote control device 200 may comprise a yoke 216 for mounting theremote control device 200 to an electrical wallbox, such that the bezelportion 215 is displaced over the opening of the wallbox. The adapterplate 212 may be connected to the yoke 216, e.g., using screws (notshown), and the faceplate 210 may snap to the adapter plate, e.g., asdescribed in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,343, issued May 30,1989, entitled TWO-PIECE FACE PLATE FOR WALL BOX MOUNTED DEVICE, theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The remote control device 200 may also comprise an enclosure 218 (e.g.,a low-profile enclosure) for housing electrical circuitry of the remotecontrol device (e.g., the electrical circuitry of the remote controldevice 120 shown in FIG. 1). For example, the air-gap switch 122, thecontrol circuit 130, the memory 136, and the wireless communicationcircuit 138 may be housed in the enclosure 218 (e.g., inside of theelectrical wallbox to which the remote control device 200 is mounted.Alternatively, the control circuit 130, the memory 136, and the wirelesscommunication circuit 138 may be housed inside of the bezel portion 215(e.g., outside of or at least partially outside of the electricalwallbox), while the air-gap switch 122 may be housed inside theenclosure 218. Since the remote control device 200 does not comprise abidirectional semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of powerdelivered to the controllable light source 110 using a phase-controldimming technique, the enclosure 218 may be of smaller size that theenclosure of a standard dimmer switch (e.g., the enclosure ischaracterized by a low profile), and thus may be easier to install in anelectrical wallbox. For example, the enclosure 218 may have a depth fromthe yoke 216 to a rear surface of the enclosure or approximately 0.75″or less (where the depth of an enclosure of a standard dimmer switch maybe approximately 1.25″).

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the remote control device 200 may comprisea user interface having a plurality of buttons (e.g., the controlactuators 132 of the remote control 120 of the load control system 100of FIG. 1) that are provided in the bezel potion 215 (e.g., arranged infront of the opening of the wallbox in which the remote control device200 is installed). Specifically, the remote control device 200 maycomprise, for example, an on button 220, an off button 222, a raisebutton 224, and a lower button 226. For example, the remote controldevice 200 may be associated with the controllable light source 110 andmay transmit digital messages via wireless signals (e.g., the RF signals106) for controlling the lighting load of the controllable light sourcein response to actuations of the buttons 220-226. For example, theremote control device 200 may transmit commands to turn the lightingload on and off in response to actuations of the on button 220 and theoff button 222, respectively. In addition, the remote control device 200may transmit commands to raise and lower the intensity of the lightingload in response to actuations of the raise button 224 and the lowerbutton 226, respectively. Further, the remote control device 200 mayadditionally comprise a preset button (not shown) for selecting alighting preset of the controllable light source 110. An example of thestructure of wall-mounted control device is described in greater detailin commonly-assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/780,514, filedFeb. 28, 2013, entitled WIRELESS LOAD CONTROL DEVICE, the entiredisclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

The user interface of the remote control device 200 may further comprisea visual display, e.g., a linear array of visual indicators 228, thatmay be illuminated to provide feedback to a user (e.g., of the intensityof the controllable light source). The indicators 228 may be illuminatedby a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) located in the enclosure218.

The remote control device 200 may also comprise an air-gap switchactuator 230 for opening and closing an internal air-gap switch (e.g.,the air-gap switch 124 of the remote control device 120 of FIG. 1),which may be housed in the enclosure 218 and may be coupled in seriesbetween an AC power source (e.g., the AC power source 102) and theelectrical load. The air-gap switch actuator 230 may be located in thebezel portion 215 and may be mechanically coupled to the air-gap switch.For example, the air-gap switch may be opened to disconnect theelectrical load from the AC power source in response to pulling theair-gap switch actuator 230 away from the bezel portion 215. An exampleof an air-gap switch actuator that may be pulled out from a controldevice is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.7,365,282, issued Apr. 29, 2008, entitled PULL OUT AIR GAP SWITCH FOR AWALLBOX-MOUNTED DIMMER, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

Alternatively, the remote control device 200 could comprise a differentair-gap switch actuator that pulls out from the remote control device ina different direction, for example, from the top, bottom, left, or rightsides of the adapter plate. In addition, the remote control device 200could comprise an air-gap switch actuator that slides sideways acrossthe bezel portion 215 to actuate the internal air-gap switch. Further,the air-gap switch actuator could be hidden from view behind thefaceplate 210, such that the air-gap switch actuator can only beactuated when the faceplate is removed.

FIG. 3 is a simple diagram of another example load control system 300(e.g., a lighting control system) having a load control device (e.g., acontrollable light source 310) and a two-part remote control device 305that comprises a battery-powered wireless communication device 320 andan air-gap switch device 330. The controllable light source 310 may besimilar to the controllable light source 110 of the load control system100 shown in FIG. 1 and may be installed to replace apreviously-installed light bulb. The air-gap switch device 330 may beadapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an ACpower source 302 and the controllable light source 310, e.g., mounted inan electrical wallbox in place of a previously-installed standardwall-mounted mechanical switch. The wireless communication device 320may be mounted to the air-gap switch device 330, e.g., in front of theelectrical wallbox in which the air-gap switch device is installed. Thewireless communication device 320 may be configured to transmit wirelesssignals, e.g., RF signals 306, to the controllable light source 310 forcontrolling the controllable light source. The wireless communicationdevice 320 may be assigned to the controllable light source 310 during aconfiguration procedure of the load control system 300, such that thecontrollable light source 310 is responsive to digital messagestransmitted by the wireless communication device 320 via the RF signals306.

The air-gap switch device 330 may comprise two load terminals H1, H2 forcoupling the air-gap switch device 330 is series electrical connectionbetween the AC power source 302 and the controllable light source 310.The air-gap switch device 330 may comprise a mechanical air-gap switch332 that may be coupled in series between the load terminals H1, H2, andmay be opened and closed in response to actuations of an air-gap switchactuator 334 for respectively disconnecting the controllable lightsource 310 from the AC power source 302. The air-gap switch device 330does not include a bidirectional semiconductor switch (such as a triacor one or more field-effect transistors) for controlling the amount ofpower delivered to the controllable light source 310 using aphase-control dimming technique (e.g., as in a standard dimmer switch).

The wireless communication device 320 may comprise a control circuit322, which may include one or more of a processor (e.g., amicroprocessor), a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), or any suitable processing device. The wirelesscommunication device 320 may comprise a user interface having one ormore control actuators 324 for receiving user inputs for controlling thecontrollable light source 310, and one or more visual indicators 325 forproviding feedback to a user of the wireless communication device. Thewireless communication device 320 may include a memory 326communicatively coupled to the control circuit 130 for the storageand/or retrieval of, for example, a unique identifier (e.g., a serialnumbers) of the wireless communication device. The memory 326 may beimplemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internalcircuit of the control circuit 322.

The wireless communication device 320 may further comprise a wirelesscommunication circuit 328, for example, including an RF transmittercoupled to an antenna for transmitting the RF signals 306 in response tothe actuations of the control actuators 324. The controllable lightsource 310 may turn on and off or adjust the intensity of the internallighting load in response to the RF signals 306 transmitted by thewireless communication device 320 when one of the control actuators 324is actuated. Alternatively, the wireless communication circuit 328 mayinclude an RF receiver for receiving RF signals, an RF transceiver fortransmitting and receiving RF signals, or an IR transmitter and/orreceiver for transmitting and/or receiving IR signals. For example, thecontrol circuit 322 may be operable to receive a digital messageincluding the intensity of lighting load of the controllable lightsource 310. While not shown in FIG. 3, the load control system 300 maycomprise one or more input devices (e.g., similar to the input device140 of the load control system 100 of FIG. 1), such as a handheldbattery-powered remote control, an occupancy sensor, a vacancy sensor,or a daylight sensor.

The wireless communication device 320 may include a power source, e.g.,a battery 329 producing a battery voltage V_(BATT) (e.g., approximately3 volts) for powering the control circuit 322, the memory 326, thewireless communication circuit 328, and other low-voltage circuitry ofthe wireless communication device.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an example remote control device 400,which may be deployed, for example, as the remote control device 305 ofthe load control system 300 as depicted in FIG. 3. The remote controldevice 400 may comprise a faceplate 402 that may be connected to anadapter plate 404 and has an opening 406. The remote control device 400may comprise a wireless communication device 410 (e.g., similar to thewireless communication device 320 of FIG. 3), which comprises aremovable housing 408 (e.g., an enclosure or a handheld housing) thatextends through the opening 406 of the faceplate 402. The wirelesscommunication device 410 may comprise a user interface having aplurality of buttons (e.g., the control actuators 324 of the wirelesscommunication device 320 of the load control system 300 of FIG. 3) thatmay be provided in the housing 408. Specifically, the user interface ofthe wireless communication device 410 may comprise, for example, an onbutton 412, an off button 414, a raise button 416, and a lower button418.

The wireless communication device 410 of the remote control device 400may be associated with an electrical load device (e.g., the controllablelight source 310 of the load control system 300 of FIG. 3) and maytransmit digital messages via wireless signals (e.g., the RF signals306) for controlling the electrical load device (e.g., the lighting loadof the controllable light source) in response to actuations of thebuttons 412-418. For example, the wireless communication device 410 maytransmit commands to turn the lighting load on and off in response toactuations of the on button 412 and the off button 414, respectively. Inaddition, the wireless communication device 410 may transmit commands toraise and lower the intensity of the lighting load in response toactuations of the raise button 416 and the lower button 418,respectively. The user interface of the wireless communication device410 may also comprise a visual indicator 419 for providing feedback to auser of the remote control device, for example, when one of the buttons412-418 is being actuated and the remote control device is transmittingthe wireless signals. Examples of remote control devices and wirelesscommunication devices having a plurality of buttons are described ingreater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application PublicationNo. 2012/0286940, published Nov. 12, 2012, entitled CONTROL DEVICEHAVING A NIGHTLIGHT, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

FIG. 4B is a partial exploded perspective view of the remote controldevice 400 with the faceplate 402 and the adapter plate 404 removed.FIG. 4C is a perspective view showing how the wireless communicationdevice 410 may mount to an air-gap switch device 420 (e.g., the air-gapswitch device 330 of the load control system 300 of FIG. 3). The air-gapswitch device 420 may comprise a yoke portion 422 for mounting theair-gap switch device to an electrical wallbox 424, such that thebuttons 412-418 on the remote control device 400 may be displaced overthe opening of the wallbox 424. For example, mounting screws 425 may bereceived through mounting openings 426 in the yoke portion 422 andcorresponding mounting openings 428 in the wallbox 424.

The air-gap switch device 420 may comprise an enclosure 430 (e.g., alow-profile enclosure) for housing an internal air-gap switch (e.g., theair-gap switch 332 of the air-gap switch device 330 shown in FIG. 3),which may be electrically coupled in series between a power source andan electrical load device (e.g., the controllable light source 310 ofFIG. 3). The adapter plate 404 may be connected to the yoke portion 422,e.g., using faceplate screws 432 received through openings 434 in theadapter plate 404 and corresponding openings 436 in the yoke portion.The adaptor plate 404 may include snap fastener recesses 438, which mayreceive projections (not shown) formed on the rear of the faceplate 402.Since the air-gap switch device 420 does not comprise a bidirectionalsemiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered tothe controllable light source 310 using a phase-control dimmingtechnique, the enclosure 430 may be of smaller size that the enclosureof a standard dimmer switch (e.g., the enclosure is characterized by alow profile), and thus may be easier to install in an electricalwallbox. For example, the enclosure 430 may have a depth from the yokeportion 422 to a rear surface of the enclosure or approximately 0.75″ orless (where the depth of an enclosure of a standard dimmer switch may beapproximately 1.25″).

The yoke portion 422 of the air-gap switch device 420 may define amounting structure 440 that may be configured to releasably receive thehousing 408. The mounting structure 440 may comprise a flexibleintegrally-formed leaf 442 positioned in a recess 444. The housing 408of the wireless communication device 410 may comprise a slide-receivingportion (not shown) in which the leaf 442 received (e.g., slidablyfastenable) as shown in FIG. 4C, as described in greater detail incommonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,389,857, issued Mar. 5, 2013, entitledSTRUCTURE FOR MOUNTING A WIRELESS BATTERY-POWERED REMOTE CONTROL, theentire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.Accordingly, the buttons 412-418 of the wireless communication device410 may be located in front of the opening of the wallbox 424 when theremote control device is installed on the air-gap switch device 420 andthe air-gap switch device is mounted to the wallbox.

Since the wireless communication device 410 is battery-powered, thehousing 408 (i.e., the handheld housing) may be removed from themounting structure 440 while the air-gap switch of the air-gap switchdevice 420 is closed and the electrical load device is powered. Forexample, the wireless communication device 410 may be removed from themounting structure 440 and may be used as a handheld remote control forthe electrical load device (e.g., to transmit RF signals to theelectrical load device in response to actuations of the buttons 412-418while the wireless communication device is removed from the mountingstructure). Alternatively, the air-gap switch device 420 could comprisea theft deterrent mechanism (such as a screw) for locking the wirelesscommunication device 410 in place when the wireless communication device410 is mounted to the mounting structure 440 to hinder theft if theremote control device 400 is installed in a public space, such as anoffice or a hotel room.

While the wireless communication device 410 shown in FIGS. 4A and 4Bcomprises five buttons 412-418, the wireless communication device 410could comprise any number, type, combination, arrangement, ororientation of actuators. To provide for easy adjustment of the userinterface of the remote control device 400, the wireless communicationdevice 410 may be removed from the mounting structure 440 and replacedwith a new wireless communication device having a different number,type, combination, arrangement, or orientation of actuators. Forexample, the wireless communication device 410 could comprise one ormore buttons, toggle switches, paddle switches, rockers, sliders, rotaryknobs, or other actuators that allow for controlling electrical loaddevices, load control devices, and/or electrical loads.

The air-gap switch device 420 may also comprise an air-gap switchactuator 450 mechanically coupled to the internal air-gap switch housedin the enclosure 430 for opening and closing the air-gap switch. Theair-gap switch actuator 450 may be actuated to cycle power to theelectrical load device to facilitate association of the wirelesscommunication device 410 and the electrical load device. While thewireless communication device 410 is detached from the mountingstructure 440, the air-gap switch actuator 450 may be actuated to turnthe electrical load device on and off from the air-gap switch device420.

The air-gap switch actuator 450 may protrude past a lower edge of thefaceplate 402 and/or the adapter plate 404, such that the air-gap switchactuator may be actuated when the faceplate is installed on the air-gapswitch device 420. The air-gap switch may be opened to disconnect theelectrical load device from the AC power source in response to pullingthe air-gap switch actuator 450 down from the air-gap switch device 420,e.g., as shown and described in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No.4,783,581, issued Nov. 8, 1988, entitled AIR GAP SWITCH ASSEMBLY, andU.S. Pat. No. 8,173,920, issued May 8, 2012, entitled LOAD CONTROLDEVICE HAVING A MODULAR ASSEMBLY, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

Alternatively, the air-gap switch actuator could be hidden from viewbehind the faceplate 402, such that the air-gap switch actuator can onlybe actuated when the faceplate is removed. In addition, the air-gapswitch device 420 could alternatively comprise a blank bezel portionhaving no actuators positioned in the opening 406 of the faceplate 402rather than the remote control device 400, and could comprise only theair-gap switch actuator 450 for allowing the user to disconnect theelectrical load from the AC power source.

The remote control device 400 could alternatively comprise an air-gapswitch actuator that pulls out from the remote control device, forexample, in a similar manner as the air-gap switch actuator 230 ispulled out away from the remote control device 200 shown in FIGS. 2A and2B. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example remote control device 500having an air-gap switch actuator 550 that pulls out from the remotecontrol device. The air-gap switch actuator 550 may be coupled to anair-gap switch (not shown) in an air-gap switch device (not shown) towhich the remote control device 500 is mounted (e.g., in a similarfashion as the remote control device 400 mounts to the air-gap switchdevice 420). For example, the air-gap switch actuator 550 may bepositioned in the front surface of a faceplate 502 below an opening 506of the faceplate (e.g., below a housing 508 of the remote control device500). In addition, the remote control device 500 could comprise anair-gap switch actuator that slides sideways through a recess below theopening 506 of the faceplate 502 to actuate the internal air-gap switch.

FIG. 6 is a simple diagram of another example load control system 600(e.g., a lighting control system) having a load control device (e.g., acontrollable light source 610) and a remote control device 605 thatcomprises a wireless communication device 620 and an air-gap switchdevice 630. The controllable light source 610 may be similar to thecontrollable light source 110 of the load control system 100 shown inFIG. 1 and may be installed to replace a previously-installed lightbulb. The air-gap switch device 630 may be adapted to be mounted in anelectrical wallbox in place of a previously-installed standardwall-mounted mechanical switch and to be coupled in series electricalconnection between an AC power source 602 and the controllable lightsource 610. The wireless communication device 620 may be configured totransmit wireless signals, e.g., RF signals 606, to the controllablelight source 610 for controlling the controllable light source. Thewireless communication device 620 may be assigned to the controllablelight source 610 during a configuration procedure of the load controlsystem 600, such that the controllable light source 610 is responsive todigital messages transmitted by the wireless communication device 620via the RF signals 606.

The wireless communication device 620 may be mounted to the air-gapswitch device 630, e.g., in front of the electrical wallbox in which theair-gap switch device is installed (e.g., in a similar manner as thewireless communication device 320 mounts to the air-gap switch device330 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B). To provide for easy adjustment of theuser interface of the remote control device 605, the wirelesscommunication device 620 may be unmounted from the air-gap switch device630 and replaced with a new wireless communication device having adifferent number or type of buttons.

The air-gap switch device 630 may comprise two load terminals H1, H2 forcoupling the air-gap switch device is series electrical connectionbetween the AC power source 302 and the controllable light source 610.The air-gap switch device 630 may comprise a mechanical air-gap switch632 that may be coupled in series between the load terminals H1, H2, andmay be opened and closed in response to actuations of an air-gap switchactuator 634 for respectively disconnecting the controllable lightsource 610 from the AC power source 602. The air-gap switch device 630may also include a power supply 636 coupled in series with the air-gapswitch 632 between the AC power source 602 and the controllable lightsource 610 for powering the wireless communication device 620 when theair-gap switch is closed as will be described in greater detail below.

The wireless communication device 620 may comprise a control circuit622, which may include one or more of a processor (e.g., amicroprocessor), a microcontroller, a programmable logic device (PLD), afield programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), or any suitable processing device. The wirelesscommunication device 620 may comprise a user interface having one ormore control actuators 624 for receiving user inputs for controlling thecontrollable light source 610, and one or more visual indicators 625 forproviding feedback to a user of the wireless communication device. Thewireless communication device 620 may include a memory 626communicatively coupled to the control circuit 620 for the storageand/or retrieval of, for example, a unique identifier (e.g., a serialnumbers) of the wireless communication device. The memory 626 may beimplemented as an external integrated circuit (IC) or as an internalcircuit of the control circuit 622.

The wireless communication device 620 may further comprise a wirelesscommunication circuit 628, for example, including an RF transmittercoupled to an antenna for transmitting the RF signals 606 in response tothe actuations of the control actuators 624. The controllable lightsource 610 may turn on and off or adjust the intensity of the internallighting load in response to the RF signals 606 transmitted by thewireless communication device 620 when one of the control actuators 624is actuated. Alternatively, the wireless communication circuit 628 mayinclude an RF receiver for receiving RF signals, an RF transceiver fortransmitting and receiving RF signals, or an IR transmitter and/orreceiver for transmitting and/or receiving IR signals. For example, thecontrol circuit 622 may be operable to receive a digital messageincluding the intensity of lighting load of the controllable lightsource 610. While not shown in FIG. 6, the load control system 600 maycomprise one or more input devices (e.g., similar to the input device140 of the load control system 100 of FIG. 1), such as a handheldbattery-powered remote control, an occupancy sensor, a vacancy sensor,or a daylight sensor.

The wireless communication device 620 may also include an energy storageelement 639, such as a capacitor or a rechargeable battery, which isable to be charged from the power supply 636 in the air-gap switchdevice 630. When the air-gap switch 632 is closed, the energy storageelement 639 is operable to charge and to generate a DC supply voltageVcc for powering the control circuit 622, the memory 626, the wirelesscommunication circuit 638, and other low-voltage circuitry of thewireless communication device 620. The power supply 636 may be able toconduct a charging current through the controllable light source 610 togenerate the DC supply voltage V_(CC) without significantly distortingthe voltage supplied to the controllable light source 610 (e.g., in asimilar manner as with the power supply 139 described above). If theenergy storage element 639 of the wireless communication device 620comprises a rechargeable battery, the battery may be able to charge fromthe power supply 636 in the air-gap switch device 630 while the wirelesscommunication device is mounted to the air-gap switch device.Accordingly, the rechargeable battery may not substantially deplete inpower and may not to be periodically replaced even if the wirelesscommunication device 620 is occasionally unmounted from the air-gapswitch device 630 for finite periods of time.

For example, the energy storage element 639 may be operable to derivepower from an inductive coupling with the power supply 636 in theair-gap switch device 630, e.g., as described in commonly-assigned U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0214609, published Aug. 22,2013, entitled TWO-PART LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM MOUNTABLE TO A SINGLEELECTRICAL WALLBOX, the entire disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference. Alternatively, the energy storage element 639could be adapted to be coupled to the power supply 636 in the air-gapswitch device 630 via a wired connection. For example, the power supply636 could be an isolated power supply and the air-gap switch device 630could comprise pogo pins (not shown) adapted to contact electricalcontacts on the wireless communication device 620.

The remote control devices 120, 200, 305, 400, 500, 605 could be toreplace light switches in a three-way lighting system having twosingle-pole double-throw (SPDT) mechanical switches for controlling anelectrical load device, e.g., a lighting load, such as an incandescentor dimmable light source. For example, a standard dimmer switch could beinstalled in place of the first SPDT mechanical switch in a firstelectrical wallbox and one of the remote control devices 120, 200, 305,400, 500, 605 could be installed in place of the second SPDT mechanicalswitch in a second electrical wallbox. The dimmer switch and the remotecontrol device could be electrically coupled in series between the ACpower source and the lighting load. The dimmer switch could beconfigured to use a phase-control dimming technique to control theamount of power delivered to the lighting load. The remote controldevice could comprise one or more buttons and could be configured totransmit a digital message to the dimmer switch for controlling thelighting load in response to an actuation of one of the buttons. Inaddition, the remote control device could be configured to transmit adigital message another load control device (other than the dimmerswitch) for controlling a different electrical load in response to anactuation of one of the buttons

While the load control systems 100, 300, 600 were shown and describedherein for control of the controllable light sources 110, 310, 610(e.g., controllable screw-in lamps), the remote control devices 120,200, 305, 400, 500, 605 could be used to control other types ofelectrical load devices, load control devices, and electrical loads,e.g., in other retrofit installations. For example, the remote controldevices 120, 200, 305, 400, 500, 605 could be used to control, forexample, remotely-mounted load control devices, that may be located onor above the ceiling, inside of a wall, or in an electrical closet. Forexample, the remotely-mounted load control devices may comprise anelectronic dimming ballast for driving one or more fluorescent lamps ina ceiling-mounted lighting fixture and/or an LED driver for regulatingthe current through an LED light engine in a ceiling-mounted lightingfixture. For example, the electronic ballast or the LED driver may bemounted to a junction box adjacent to the lighting fixture in which thefluorescent lamps or the LED light engine is located. The electronicballast and the LED driver may each comprise an internal RF receiver andantenna mounted on or extending from the respective enclosure.

In addition, the electronic ballast and the LED driver may each beelectronically coupled to a control module, e.g., via an analog controllink or a digital communication link. The control module may comprise awireless communication circuit (e.g., an RF receiver or an RFtransceiver) and may be mounted away from the electronic ballast and theLED driver, for example, on an external surface of the lighting fixtureand/or the ceiling. Alternatively, the control module may be mountedabove the ceiling, e.g., to the junction box to which the electronicballast or the LED driver is mounted, inside of a wall, or in anelectrical closet. The control module may be configured to control theelectronic ballast and the LED driver in response to received RFsignals.

The electronic ballast and the LED driver may be responsive to the RFsignals transmitted by any of the input devices of the load controlsystems 100, 300, 600 (e.g., handheld battery-powered remote control, anoccupancy sensor, a vacancy sensor, or a daylight sensor). For example,the electronic ballast and the LED driver may each turn the respectivelighting load on and off and may each adjust the intensity of therespective lighting load in response to the received RF signals.Examples of electronic dimming ballasts and LED drivers are described ingreater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 8,492,987, issued Jul.23, 2013, entitled LOAD CONTROL DEVICE FOR A LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE LIGHTSOURCE, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,629,624, issued Jan. 14, 2014, entitledMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS IN A LOADCONTROL DEVICE, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporatedby reference.

The load control systems 100, 300, 600 may also comprise motorizedwindow treatments for controlling an amount of daylight entering aspace. For example, the motorized window treatments may comprise abattery-powered motorized cellular shade and/or a battery-poweredmotorized roller shade. In addition, the load control systems 100, 300,600 may comprise other types of motorized window treatments, such as,for example, draperies, Roman shades, Venetian blinds, Persian blinds,pleated blinds, and tensioned roller shade systems. The motorized windowtreatments may each comprise an internal wireless communication circuit(e.g., a RF receiver and an antenna mounted on or extending from a motordrive unit of the motorized window treatment). Alternatively, themotorized window treatments may each be electronically coupled tocontrol module (e.g., having an RF receiver and/or an antenna) that ismounted away from the motorized window treatment.

The motorized window treatments may be responsive to the RF signalstransmitted by the input devices of the load control systems 100, 300,600 (e.g., handheld battery-powered remote control, an occupancy sensor,a vacancy sensor, or a daylight sensor). For example, the motorizedwindow treatments may open and close a covering material to allow moreor less daylight to enter the space in response to the received RFsignals. Examples of battery-powered motorized window treatments aredescribed in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2012/0261078, published Oct. 18, 2012, entitledMOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No.20140305602, published Oct. 16, 2014, entitled INTEGRATED ACCESSIBLEBATTERY COMPARTMENT FOR MOTORIZED WINDOW TREATMENT, the entiredisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The remote control devices 120, 200, 305, 400, 500, 605 could be used tocontrol other types of electrical load devices, load control devices,and electrical loads, such as, for example, a dimming circuit forcontrolling the intensity of an incandescent lamp , a halogen lamp, anelectronic low-voltage lighting load, a magnetic low-voltage lightingload, or another type of lighting load; a screw-in luminaire including adimmer circuit and an incandescent or halogen lamp; a screw-in luminaireincluding a ballast and a compact fluorescent lamp; a screw-in luminaireincluding an LED driver and an LED light source; an electronic switch,controllable circuit breaker, or other switching device for turning anappliance on and off; a controllable electrical receptacle, a plug-inload control device, or a controllable power strip for controlling oneor more plug-in loads; a motor control unit for controlling a motorload, such as a ceiling fan or an exhaust fan; a drive unit forcontrolling a motorized window treatment or a projection screen;motorized interior or exterior shutters; a thermostat for a heatingand/or cooling system; a temperature control device for controlling asetpoint temperature of an HVAC system; an air conditioner; acompressor; an electric baseboard heater controller; a controllabledamper; a variable air volume controller; a fresh air intake controller;a ventilation controller; a hydraulic valves for use radiators andradiant heating system; a humidity control unit; a humidifier; adehumidifier; a water heater; a boiler controller; a pool pump; arefrigerator; a freezer; a television or computer monitor; a videocamera; an audio system or amplifier; an elevator; a power supply; agenerator; an electric charger, such as an electric vehicle charger; andan alternative energy controller.

What is claimed is:
 1. A remote control device for controlling anelectrical load device adapted to receive power from analternating-current (AC) power source, the remote control devicecomprising: an air-gap switch device comprising an enclosure configuredto be installed in an electrical wallbox, the air-gap switch devicefurther comprising an air-gap switch located in the enclosure andadapted to be electrically coupled in series between the AC power sourceand the electrical load and an air-gap switch actuator configured to beactuated by a user to open and close the air-gap switch; and a wirelesscommunication device configured to be mounted to the air-gap switchdevice, the wireless communication device comprising a user interfaceconfigured to receive an input, a wireless communication circuitconfigured to transmit a wireless signal, and a control circuitconfigured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit thewireless signal in response to the input received via the userinterface, the wireless signal including a command for controlling theelectrical load.
 2. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein theair-gap switch device further comprises a yoke portion configured to bemounted to the electrical wallbox such that the enclosure of the air-gapswitch device is located inside of the electrical wallbox.
 3. The remotecontrol device of claim 2, wherein the yoke portion of the air-gapswitch device defines a mounting structure to which the wirelesscommunication device may be mounted resulting in the wirelesscommunication device being located at least partially outside of theelectrical wallbox when the yoke portion is mounted to the electricalwallbox.
 4. The remote control device of claim 3, wherein the wirelesscommunication device comprises an energy storage element configured togenerate a direct-current (DC) supply voltage from the AC power sourceto power the control circuit and the wireless communication circuit. 5.The remote control device of claim 4, wherein the air-gap switch devicefurther comprises a power supply electrically coupled in series with theair-gap switch and configured to conduct a charging current through theelectrical load device to generate the DC supply voltage across theenergy storage element of the wireless communication device.
 6. Theremote control device of claim 5, wherein the power supply of theair-gap switch device is electrically coupled to the energy storageelement of the wireless communication device.
 7. The remote controldevice of claim 6, wherein the mounting structure comprises pogo pinsadapted to contact electrical contacts on the wireless communicationdevice to electrically coupled the power supply to the energy storageelement.
 8. The remote control device of claim 5, wherein the powersupply is inductively coupled to the energy storage element.
 9. Theremote control device of claim 5, wherein the energy storage elementcomprises a capacitor or a battery.
 10. The remote control device ofclaim 5, wherein the power supply is configured to generate the DCsupply voltage without significantly distorting a load voltage developedacross the electrical load device.
 11. The remote control device ofclaim 3, wherein the wireless communication device further comprises abattery configured to power the control circuit and the wirelesscommunication circuit.
 12. The remote control device of claim 11,wherein the wireless communication device is configured to be removedfrom the mounting structure after the yoke portion is mounted to thewallbox, the control circuit configured to subsequently cause thewireless communication circuit to transmit the wireless signal inresponse to the input received via the user interface when the wirelesscommunication device is removed from the mounting structure.
 13. Theremote control device of claim 12, wherein the mounting structure of theair-gap switch device further comprises an opening sized to receive thewireless communication device, and a flexible leaf in the opening thatreceives the wireless communication device in such a way that thewireless communication device is retained in position on the mountingstructure and the wireless communication device is framed by the openingin the mounting structure.
 14. The remote control device of claim 13,wherein the flexible leaf projects upwardly in the opening for receivinga flanged recess of the wireless communication device disposed on a rearsurface of the wireless communication device, whereby the wirelesscommunication device is slidably received on the flexible leaf and whenfully received on the leaf is retained in position on the mountingstructure in such a way that the wireless communication device is framedby the opening in the mounting structure.
 15. The remote control deviceof claim 3, wherein the wireless communication device is configured tobe removed from the mounting structure of the air-gap switch device andreplaced with a different wireless communication device having a userinterface of a different type, configuration, arrangement, ororientation.
 16. The remote control device of claim 1, wherein the userinterface comprises at least one actuator, the control circuitconfigured to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit thewireless signal in response to an actuation of the at least oneactuator.
 17. The remote control device of claim 16, wherein thewireless communication device is configured to be associated with theelectrical load device in response to a user opening and closing theair-gap switch, and then, within a first time period after closing theair-gap switch, actuating and holding the at least one actuator on thewireless communication device for a second shorter time period.
 18. Theremote control device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communicationcircuit is configured to transmit RF signals in accordance with apredefined RF communication protocol.
 19. The remote control device ofclaim 1, wherein the wireless communication circuit is configured totransmit the wireless signal via one of a plurality of wireless mediums,the wireless medium comprising one of radio-frequency signals, infraredsignals, and sound.
 20. The remote control device of claim 1, whereinthe air-gap switch provides an actual air-gap barrier between the ACpower source and the electrical load device when the air-gap switch isopen.